A method of fabricating a recording head includes depositing an insulator material onto at least a portion of a first member, wherein the insulator material forms an insulator film having a film thickness. The method further includes depositing a writer pole material onto the insulator film, wherein the writer pole material forms a writer pole member, and wherein the insulator film is between the writer pole member and a contact layer. Further, in some embodiments, the film thickness determines the distance between the writer pole member and the first contact member and also determines the distance between the writer pole member and the second contact member.